Chandler Jones

The New England Patriots are always a tough team to predict in the draft, and Bill Belichick proved why once again. Belichick builds his own draft board and sticks to it, regardless of how it matches up with the consensus opinion.

I was somewhat surprised by the trade up for Chander Jones, but I like the pick. He’s a perfect fit at end/linebacker in the Patriots hybrid defense. And while he’s still developing, Jones has the potential to be a true three-down lineman.

The selection of Dont’a Hightower felt like a slight reach in my opinion, and it’s tough to figure out how he’ll fit in the Patriots defense. That said, Belichick stacks his draft board with players whom he sees a specific role for in his defense, so I have no doubt that they have a plan for him.

While I’m willing to give Belichick the benefit of the doubt with Hightower, I can’t be so generous with the selection of Tavon Wilson. He’ll provide some much needed depth in the secondary but it’s tough to imagine him ever developing into a starter. Belichick does not have a strong track record drafting defensive backs, and this is just the latest slip up.

Jake Bequette was a great 3rd-round pick. He’ll have a chance to compete for a starting job, and should be used as part of the rotation at defensive end. He’s not an explosive pass rusher, but should be an asset on running downs.

Nate Ebner was the biggest 6th-round reach I’ve ever seen. He’s a former rugby player who was exclusively a special teams contributor at Ohio State. His measurables are impressive, but it’s tough to justify spending a 6th-round pick and a roster spot on a guy with so much development needed.

Alfonzo Dennard was overrated and his recent arrest led to his fall, but he was well worth the risk in the 7th round. However, it’s difficult to understand why the Patriots waited until the 7th round to address their need for a cornerback. Depth at the position was serious issue last year and relying on Dennard to fix the problem is a risk.

Jeremy Ebert will be Belichick’s latest project at receiver. He was productive at Northwestern and has the skill set necessary to contribute in the Welker/Edleman role. However, it’s getting crowded at the receiver position in New England and he’ll have a tough time making the final roster cuts.

Overall, this was just a so-so draft for the Patriots. They made some significant upgrades to their defensive front-seven, but the secondary was essentially ignored. It’s tough to imagine Wilson, Ebner or Dennard providing any meaningful contributions this season, which could mean their passing defense struggles from last season will carry over to 2012.

The New England Patriots needed to upgrade their pass rush, and they definitely go someone capable of getting after the quarterback here. Chandler Jones is raw, and may not be a significant difference maker immediately, but he will develop into a quality starter for the Patriots.

Jones has the combination of size/athleticism to make him a perfect fit for the Patriots hybrid defense, and I have no doubt that Belichick will find a role to maximize Jones’ skills.

Based on the Panthers’ perceived weakness at defensive tackle, Brockers has frequently been popping up in connection with the team in mock drafts. However, the Panthers invested two 3rd-round picks in Sione Fua and Terrell McClain a season ago. Brockers is a penetrating three-technique, who would likely bump McClain from the starting lineup if he were to join the Panthers.

Defensive end was expected by many to be further down the Panthers list of needs, but their apparent interest in Coples and Jones may indicate otherwise.

Coples, a possible top-10 pick, is a true three-down lineman (when he wants to be) and would be a nice compliment to Charles Johnson. Jones, on the other hand, is more of a pure pass rusher and likely would be used as a part of rotation with Johnson and Greg Hardy.

Prototypical build for a pass-rushing end; tall with long, strong arms. Explosive off the snap; consistently beats offensive tackles off the edge. Strong wrap-up tackler who can also deliver the big hit. Does a nice job keeping his eyes on the backfield; good all-around awareness on the field. An intense player who plays with an impressive motor. Has some experience dropping into zone coverage. NFL bloodlines; older brother Arthur plays for Ravens. Top intangibles; coaches speak very highly of his leadership skills. Intelligent on and off the field.

Weaknesses:

Struggles to shed blocks against the run; has the frame to add some weight, which would help him against more powerful offensive linemen. Needs to develop an array of pass rush moves; too reliant on pure speed and athleticism at this stage in his career. Missed five games with an undisclosed knee injury in 2011.

Comments:

Jones would have benefited from returning to school, as he still needs to get stronger against the run, but should still draw interest from teams as early as the late 1st-round based on his potential. He has the size, strength and athleticism of a prototypical left defensive end in the 4-3 scheme, and could develop into an elite three-down lineman. Some 3-4 teams may also view him as a candidate to shift to outside linebacker, where he could make an immediate impact as a pure pass rusher. Had Jones returned to school and improved upon his weaknesses, he potentially could have climbed into the top-10 discussion. As a result, someone could wind up with a steal in the late 1st or 2nd round.